Books are one of the significant interventions of mankind. From primitive times they are playing an integral role in shaping and forming human civilization. Expanding us to diverse galaxies, books are rooms for wisdom, knowledge, and entertainment. They play the role of the tunnel having sparkling light at one of its ends. It means that for bare minds books serve as the source of nutrition and health and bring them from darkness into light and from death into life. Books are gateways to myriads of worlds allowing us to see all the hidden gems of the universe, allowing us to raise questions, and then showing us all the possible strategies and approaches to discover and uncover answers. Books indeed enhance vision and provide us with navel angles and perspectives to look at life present on Earth.
Books have a remarkable ability to transfer the reader either into the eras of the past or into the times of the future. Being a consequence of a writer’s zenith thoughts and ideas carefully woven into words, books serve to represent plenty of emotions, stories, concepts, and beliefs. Because of books, we can expand our analytical viewpoints and quench our thirst for intellectual curiosity. Through books, a reader can experience the triumphs of history and can realize the evolutionary phases which Homo sapiens and all other living creatures have conquered.
The salient characteristic of books is “versatility”. Designed and written in various forms, books are used to cater to different professions and preferences in life. For example, novels invite readers to meet fictional characters and fictional circumstances through an organized and well-planned story that has no reality. However, some of the books consider stories based on real past experiences of different people. On the other hand, fictional books provide readers with an enormous amount of knowledge, information, concepts, and beliefs that are necessary for the well-being of life.
In this digital age which is marked by advancements in technology, a decline in purchasing of books is observed. The core reason behind this behavior is not that people don’t love to read now. But the fact is that in today’s world, books are available in the guise of e-books and various audiobooks. This has made it easy to carry the whole library in a pocket. It has omitted the discomfort of going to a bookshop or a library to buy a book.
Despite this fact, still, some books are considered top-selling books of all time. People love and wish to purchase and bring those books to their homes. In this article, we are going to explore such top-selling books of all time which are still present and are showcased in the shelves of homes of readers. Here, you are going to plunge into an ocean of beneficial information that will lead you to go to a bookshop and purchase one of the top-selling books of all time.
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
It is a widely popular fantasy series written in the magical words of JK. Rowling. It is the book that set the stage for the Harry Potter series. This book is the manifestation of all the challenges and hurdles that Harry and his colleagues faced. There will be nothing wrong to say that this book has introduced readers to an extraordinary world of magic. It tangles the imaginations of readers with its enchanting blend of adventures, challenges, and characters that readers find themselves in a magical world. With an approximation of five hundred million copies being sold all over the world, this book has gained a lot of attention and praise from readers all around the world.
2. The Lord of the Rings
It is a famous epic novel of fantasy that was originally published in three major volumes including: “The Fellowship of the Ring”, “The Two Towers”, and “The Return of the King”. This masterpiece came into existence through the marvelous effort of an amazing writer J.R.R Tolkien. The story is plotted on a frictional ground consisting of a diverse group of characters exposed to an extremely dangerous journey. They were on a mission to save their world from darkness by breaking an impotent ring. This book gained a massive following over the years. We can have a tentative idea of its popularity by knowing that almost one hundred and fifty million copies of it have been sold worldwide.
3. The Alchemist
Firstly published in the Portuguese language, “The Alchemist” novel has been translated into numerous languages. Brazilian author “Paulo Coelho” is crowned for granting avid readers this masterpiece. The book depicts the journey of a young Andalusian shepherd named “Santiago”. The key elements of this book include self-discovery, spirituality, adventure, and a philosophical approach. The mystic writing style of Coelho plays the role of gravitational pull for a bulk of the reader audience. The tint of spirituality makes this book unique and captivating. Written in simple style this book provides great lessons of life. It is highly reputable and prominent among readers. Approximately one hundred and fifty million copies of it have been sold and distributed among readers.
4. The Da Vinci Code
Published in 2003, this book is well known for its thriller content. It is written by Dan Brown and has a gripping and controversial thriller tone. The hotchpotch of conspiracy, mystery, and history captivated an enormous audience. The novel rotates around the journey of a symbology professor at Harvard University named “Robert Langdon”. He unravels a hidden code that reveals a centuries-old secret protected by a powerful organization. Because of the mystery and thought-provoking tone of the content, this novel is regarded as the most discussed novel of the twenty-first century. It has been translated into various languages. An estimated one hundred and forty million copies of this wonderful novel have been sold all across the world.
5. The Bible
It is considered a religious book having sacred texts and scriptures related to Judaism and Christianity. It is regarded as the largest-selling book all around the world. It has been translated into various languages and has had a profound impact on global culture and literature. It is believed that approximately five billion copies of it are sold globally.
6. Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung
Another name for this book is “Little Red Book”. Composed of thirty-three chapters belonging to politics, ideology, military strategy, class struggle, and the role of the communist party, this book widely elaborates on the sayings of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. It contains Mao’s revolutionary theories and principles. During the revolution in China, it is believed that this book was distributed on a large scale. Because of its compact size, it is easily accessible and can be carried by students, soldiers, and other people even in their pockets. An estimated nine hundred million copies of this book are sold.
7. Think and grow rich
A paragon designated by “Napolean Hill”, “Think and grow rich” is a self-help book in 1937. This book lays stress on the development of a successful personality. This guides how to influence people and get success in life. After studying and observing successful people belonging to variable disciplines of life including engineers, business tycoons, and many more, Hill became able to create this gem. “Thoughts are things” is the core belief of this book and Hill emphasized through his writing that a burning desire for something is mandatory for success. He highlighted thirteen principles or “steps to riches” which included the power of positive thinking, faith, persistence, the value of a clear purpose, and many more. A major part of this book focuses on financial strength and well-being. But apart from this, personal relations, health, and happiness are also discussed. Precisely, this book develops an optimistic approach in its readers. “Think and grow rich” has impacted millions of people internationally. An estimated hundred million copies of it have been sold globally.
8. The Catcher in the Rye
Written by “J.D. Salinger” and published in 1951, “The Catcher in the Rye” is a novel that reveals teenage angst, loss of innocence, teenage identity, and alienation. The story whirls around the main character named “Holden”, who also encountered other characters in his journey. The story is based on the internal struggle of Holden, who embarked on a journey of self-discovery. Being a cynical teenager he struggled a lot with the phoniness and superficiality found in adult lives. Precisely, this is Holden’s internal struggle and his longing for veracity and authenticity that resonates with readers. Its engaging narrative thought-provoking characters and compelling theme caused this novel to be celebrated on a large scale by a large number of readers. Sixty-five million copies of it are the estimated count that has been sold globally.
9. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
It is a classic fantasy novel written by C.S. Lewis. It is also renowned for being the first published book in “The Chronicles of Narnia”, a compilation of seven books that have been enjoyed by plenty of readers belonging to all ages. Originally published in 1950, “The Lion, the Witches, and the Wardrobe” encircles the story of four siblings who were sent to live with an eccentric professor in his old big house during world war two where they found a magical wardrobe while playing. This way the story proceeds. It is a captivating tale and a true manifestation of bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice giving us the universal lesson of the triumph of good over evil. With approximately eighty-five million copies being sold worldwide, this book is highly praised and approached by enthusiastic readers.
10. The Hobbit
Written by J.RR. Tolkien, “The Hobbit” is a beloved fantasy novel published in 1937. “Bibblo Bagins” is the character around which the story rotates. A humble hobbit that unexpectedly fell into an adventure. Through the stunning way of storytelling, vivid word building, and creating marvelous and memorable characters writer won the hearts of audience readers. A bulk of the audience is captivated and approximately a hundred million copies of this book have been sold worldwide.
Conclusion:
From religious texts to contemporary novels, the above-mentioned ten books have captivated millions of intellectual minds of avid readers. They left an unremarkable mark in the history of literature that still people in this modern era of technology love to buy these extremely precious gems. So, what you are waiting for? Go ahead and pick one for you.